Platform-scale



STRONG & ROSS.

Platform Scales.

Patented Jan. 15. 1856.

N LY

Ill r film? UNITED STATES PATENT GFFTQEQ FRANCIS M. STRONG AND THOMAS ROSS, OF "ERGENNES, VERMONT.

PLATFORM-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,119, dated January 15, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS M. STRONG and THOMAS Ross, of the city of Vergennes, in the county of Addison and State of Veriont, have invented an Improvement 1n Platform-Scales; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, of which Figure I is a plan, (the planking of platform removed;) Fig. II, a side sectional elevation through the platform timber B, Fig. I; and Fig. III, a detached end sectional elevation through the bearing 71 Fig. II, like letters of reference referring to the same parts in all the figures.

\Ve construct a suitable frame work A of any required dimensions for the purpose of supporting the platform, and its appurtenances. The platform is not shown in the drawing, but B, B, represent its main timbers placed horizontally, and parallel to each other within the frames A. Opposite to the ends of these beams, and attached firmly to the frame A, are L shaped supports 7, their lower portions projecting inwardly and horizontally under the timbers B and sustaining upon the bearings 2' two shafts C, C, which rest thereon upon V shaped pivots (0), the edges of which are at or above the centers of the sections of the shafts. Upon pieces projecting inwardly from the shafts C, under each extremity of the timbers B, B, are other V shaped pivots 0, each sustaining intermediate bearing pieces 7:, upon which the ends of the platform timbers B rest. To the extremities of the shafts C are secured two arms or levers D, at any desired angle horizontally, they are prolonged until they meet the steelyard rod with which they are connected and form together the angular levers C, D.

The above arrangement presents many ad vantages. By passing the levers under or through the extremities of the platform timbers the necessity of mortising or cutting away the said timbers in the centers of their length to allow the levers to pass to the side of the scale (where they connect with the beam) is entirely obviated, the full strength of the timbers is presented, and their liability to come in contact with the levers by springing or otherwise isprevented. Also by prolonging the arms D until they meet and connect directly with the steelyard rod, we not only save expense in construction but simplify the apparatus, and materially increase its reliability and efliciency.

The intermediate bearing pieces 71, have upon their upper surfaces, concavities corresponding with others upon the proximate faces of the shoes g, which are on the under surfaces of the timbers B. In each pair of the concavities are placed balls or their equivalents which support the platform and admit of its horizontal vibration, or limited motion, in any direction when any disturbing force is applied, which may'cause it to come in contact with the sides of the frame. hen the force is removed the platform is restored to its proper position clear of the frame by its own gravity, the balls 0 causing the deepest portion of each concavity to coincide with that of its fellow.

The bearings i, which are in the supports f, are made self adjustable, to compensate for any irregularity in the positions of the V shaped pivots or in the bearings themselves. They have cylindrical shanks projecting at right angles into corresponding seckets where they are each secured by a screw passing through the support f into the axis of the shank in such a manner as to admit of motion on its axis only.

All the bearings 2' are constructed with projections near their centers taking into notches on the pivots the projections fit at their bases to the COllGSPOllCllllg portions of the notches, but space is left above to avoid contact. The relative positions of the parts are thus prevented from changing longitudinally, the friction being by this improvement reduced to a minimum.

\Ve are aware that flanges have been used to keep the pivots in position, but the friction caused by the contact of their surfaces with the ends of the pivots has not been duly considered, and much inaccuracy in the scales has been the result.

lVe do not claim operating the beam by means of bent levers connected with the steelyard rod, through an intermediate lever, but

\Vhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The use of corresponding concavities and balls in combination with the proximate faces of the intermediate bearing piece-s h, and the shoe 9 substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

2. The adjustable bearings 2', in combination With the pivots c, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the projections on the bearings 2', with the notches in the pivots 0, constructed as described for the purposes specified.

FRANCIS M. STRONG. THOS. ROSS. WVitnesses L. Pnnzronv'r, CARLOS BLAKE.

through inadvertence, accident, or mistake the specification and claim of said Letters Patent are too broad, including that of which said patentees were not the first inventors. Your petitioners therefore hereby enter their disclaimer to that part of the claim in said specification which is in the following words:

2. The adjustable bearings 2', in combination with pivots a, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

And they further disclaim so much, and all, of the subject matter of the 3d claim, which is as follows: 3. The combination of the projections on the bearings 2', with the notches in the pivots 0, constructed as described for the purpose specified, as would make said claim broader than the exact construction shown and described-that is, with the projection across the face of the bearings 7', and the notches, in the pivots 0 without any end or other projections on said pivots, as are found in the English patent of WVilliam Clark of th Dec, 1846, No. 11277.

FRANCIS M. STRONG. THOS. ROSS. WVitnesses:

J. S. HIGKOK, C. H. FORBES. 

